Born this day in 1948, Laloo Prasad Yadav is probably among the best known faces of contemporary Indian politics.

He was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1977, when he was just 29. He also served as chief minister of Bihar from 1990 to 1997, when he handed over the reins to his wife Rabri Devi following corruption charges against him.

The father of nine children, he served a stint in prison before being elected to the 12th Lok Sabha for a third term.

A member of the 14th Lok Sabha, he is railway minister in the Manmohan Singh government.